Britannica Sources used in this answer

How is sucrose formed in green plants after photosynthesis?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Tall, dense stalks of sugarcane grow on both sides of a narrow path, with green leaves arching overhead and sunlight illuminating the plants. — sugar Lines of sugarcane before harvest.

Following photosynthesis, green plants synthesize sucrose through a specific metabolic sequence in the cytoplasm of the cell.12

The process begins with the export of photosynthetic intermediates, such as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (Gal3P), from the chloroplasts into the cytoplasm. Through a series of enzymatic reactions, UDP-glucose and fructose 6-phosphate combine to form a phosphorylated derivative known as sucrose 6′-phosphate. This intermediate is subsequently hydrolyzed to produce sucrose and inorganic phosphate.32

Once formed, sucrose serves as the primary sugar translocated through the phloem to nourish non-photosynthesizing parts of the plant, such as roots, growing fruits, and stems.14